Police honor mental health professionals who help cops with stress

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A nonprofit group that provides state-of-the-art tools for combating stress is helping save lives of police officers and other first responders in the metro area.

Warriors Ascent helps support the mental health of veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, the police department is honoring Warriors Ascent for helping police officers cope with depression, family issues, and the program even has helped prevent suicides among those who protect and serve us.

KCPD Officer Nathan Magers completed the five-day training after serving two tours in Iraq with the Marine Corps. He said it changed his life.

"When I went through Warriors they just taught me how to be human again," Magers said. "It altered how I think, altered how I live, altered how I love. Warriors Ascent truly saved not only my life, I can tell you with 100 percent certainty had I not gone through this program I would not be here today."